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Dr. A.J. “Jack” Green

News — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:35:20 +0000

Much of what South Texas Children’s Home Ministries is today, it owes to the leadership of Dr. A.J. “Jack” Green. To those who know him best, this may seem like an understatement, but if you’ve not yet had the privilege to meet him, well…get ready!

You never know where Jack Green will show up next. It could be your church, your neighborhood, the barber shop, a Beefmaster cattle sale, or somewhere along the road between South Texas and Creede, Colorado where the Green family cabin sits among the majestic Rocky Mountains.

But whenever and wherever it is, you will know three things about this great man in the briefest of encounters. One, he cares about you and is genuinely interested in your life. Two, he loves the Lord and is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. And three, he is passionate about the work of South Texas Children’s Home Ministries (STCHM) and what it does for hurting children and families.

“When I think of STCH, I think Jack Green. When I think of Jack Green, I think STCH,” shares Bob Beazley, who served on the STCH board of directors for 27 years. “Jack is STCH …. 24/7.” Bob has been friends with Jack for many years. “Jack and I have hunted, fished, ridden motor cycles, laughed, cried, and served together. He’s a Godly man that I am proud to call friend.”

Green retired as STCHM’s President and CEO in June of 1998 after serving in that capacity for 25 years. Yet someone comes up to him almost daily to share about the impact STCHM had on their life.

“I used to sponsor a child from STCHM, Dr. Green. He would come stay at our house every summer. It was such a special experience and we still keep in touch with him. Thank you, Dr. Green, for all you did for the Children’s Home.”

“Dr. Green, you probably don’t remember me, but THANK YOU for what you did for me through the Children’s Home. I know it didn’t seem like I would ever make it, but I have a job and a family, and I’m doing well. I never forgot what I learned at the Home. It changed my life.”

“The first and foremost thing about Jack Green is that he is grounded,” said John Weber, current STCHM Board Chairman and lifelong friend of Jack and Bobbie Green. “He knows absolutely who he is, what he believes, and why he believes it. And he always seeks to know what is right.”

Perhaps that is why in the early 1970s, the South Texas Children’s Home Board and founding president Brother Jess Lunsford were determined to bring Green in as the second leader of the Home.

“When we were first told that the search committee wanted me to be the next president of the Children’s Home, my wife Bobbie and I both laughed,” Jack said. “But Homer Dean called me to meet the committee for dinner and he laid down a thick file of all the information they had gathered about me and said, ‘We are absolutely certain you are the one to take the head of the Home.’ So I told Bobbie that we should at least pray about it since so many that I loved and admired believed I was the man for the job.”

Alton Jackson Green, Jr. grew up on a 97-acre rent farm outside of Rogers, Texas in a four-room unpainted house with Christian parents and three other siblings.

Todd Roberson, current STCHM President and CEO, recalls a conversation that took place after he first started working at STCH 18 years ago.

“I hadn’t been at the Children’s Home long when I put two and two together and realized that Bro. Lunsford had been Dr. Green’s boyhood pastor,” Roberson said. “I had also heard that he had baptized Jack, but I thought maybe someone was pulling my leg about that. One day when I was talking to Bro. Lunsford I asked him if he had really baptized Jack as a young man. Brother Lunsford replied, ‘Todd, I did baptize him. The only problem was I didn’t hold him under the water long enough for it to take.’ Brother Lunsford and Dr. Green had such a great, and humorous, relationship!”

Later, after his baptism, Jack was called into the ministry at the age of fourteen while attending youth camp in Bell County. He preached his first sermon at a revival when he was only 15, and at age 17 he began attending Baylor University.

“I was intimidated by the big churches around Baylor so I preached at smaller churches, Jack said. “When I first saw Bobbie while preaching at Third Street Baptist Church, I was totally enraptured. We couldn’t date at first, but she graduated from high school and worked at Baylor while attending college, and I went off to seminary. We were married right before I got out of seminary.”

Jack became the founding pastor of Shearer Hills Baptist Church in San Antonio, which began as a mission of First Baptist Church-San Antonio, and the Greens had three children – Allen, Doug and Jeanene. Jack loved being a pastor and had been at Shearer Hills for 15 years when he was asked to come to STCHM. He remembers someone telling him that if he became the president of STCHM, he would have to give up preaching, and that was a tough decision.

“Jack was my pastor and preacher at Shearer Hills from the time I was eight until I graduated from high school and went off to undergrad and law school,” Weber shared. “Jack was very involved with the youth so I had the opportunity to interact with him a lot. He had a great sense of humor. My favorite memories are things that occurred at youth camp, but it would not be appropriate to elaborate on them in this article!”

Jack’s reputation for being a character is as much a part of him as his spiritual passion. Bill Beazley, Bob Beazley’s brother and a current director on the STCH board, has special memories of Jack as well.

“One morning, years ago, in Creed Colorado, Jack Green came by my cabin and told me we were going to the river to fish,” Bill shared. “Soon, we were on the banks of the Rio Grande. The water was perfect, but we never fished. We sat down on the bank and Jack shared with me the invitation he had received to move to South Texas and lead South Texas Children’s Home. For several hours, we prayed, talked, cried, questioned and prayed some more. Jack realized that God wanted him to accept these challenging opportunities, and he prayed to thank God and ask Him for His continued support.”

“Jack is a visionary,” Weber said. “In 1973 when he left Shearer Hills to go to this place called South Texas Children’s Home, he went with a vision – to take what Jess Lunsford started and expand it into what it could become. And he did that with the background of a pastor, not an administrator.”

“He was always focused on the goal,” Weber continued. “And that was: How do I grow STCHM financially to be able to keep doing what we do for children? Jack always has his eyes on the future. He’s not afraid of change if it advances the goal. And he has never lost his way.”

Jack’s early days at STCHM were not easy. A week after they moved to the Home, their second son, Doug, had an accident which broke his neck, although he did recover fully. The work was challenging as well.

“My first six months at the Home, I did not have an assistant or other administrators so I would be able to learn the ropes,” Jack said. “Peggy Patterson, Diane Gryseels, and Mickey Hurry were a great help to me. One of my greatest early accomplishments was to get telephones throughout the campus. We only had one phone in the administration building and a phone booth near the cottages.”

“My first thought as executive director was ‘How in the world am I going to get people to know that the Children’s Home is out here?’ Since our donated land had good hunting on it, I offered hunts to people if they would stop by and see the Home. Then, I started thinking about the cattle on our land and called my good friend and rancher Robert Armstrong. Robert donated 28 prime Beefmaster heifers and two bulls to STCHM to begin a quality Beefmaster herd. At our first Kattle for Kids sale on campus in 1980, 413 ranchers and breeders attended and two-thirds of the cattle that were purchased were donated back to the Home!”

“One rancher who attended that first sale was not even a Beefmaster breeder,” Jack said, “but he liked what he saw at the Children’s Home. He has since become one of STCHM’s biggest supporters and plans to leave everything he has to STCHM one day.”

“Another great accomplishment was when I hired Homer Hanna as the Child Care Administrator,” he added. “Homer had served as Dean of Students at the University of Corpus Christi (UCC) and later as Associate Pastor of Shearer Hills.”

Roberson was also invited to join the staff in 1992. “Dr. Green first hired me to be the Assistant Business Administrator to my friend, Mickey Hurry,” Roberson shared. “I have often thought about the sanity, or lack thereof, involved in hiring a 25-year-old to ultimately be responsible for the finances of the Home! I am grateful that Dr. Green saw something in me at a relatively young age to trust me with such an awesome responsibility.” Roberson later became Vice President-Business Administration and then served as Vice President of Development and COO before becoming STCHM President and CEO in November of 2007.

Jack Green definitely has a gift for connecting with people and sensing their needs, and he’s always ready to offer up a prayer on the behalf of others. “I guess one way to say it is he’s got God at his fingertips,” Doris Porter, who goes by “Po,” stated.

Many years ago, Po and her friend Shirley Hathorn were on their way to Creede, Colorado where they spend their summers.

“We pulled into a station to get gas in Clayton, New Mexico, right behind a vehicle with a Texas license plate and a trailer full of three-wheelers,” Po explained. “Shirley went in to pay for the gas and asked the man where he was from. It was Jack Green and he told her he was from South Texas Children’s Home and that he was headed to Creede, Colorado.” Thus began a lifelong friendship between Po, Shirley and the Greens and Po, Shirley and STCHM.

“Jack Green is kind, considerate and thoughtful,” Po continued. “He really likes people and goes out of his way to speak to you and get to know you, whether it’s at church, on the street or anywhere else. He and Bobbie are so good to stop by and share things with you. If they have been to the Valley or somewhere else, they always bring things back to their neighbors and friends …. candy, peaches, strawberries or lettuce …. whatever they have. And they are the kind of people you don’t hesitate to call when you need help. When Shirley and I were talking about setting up trusts for the Children’s Home, Jack came out and walked the property with me and spent time with us. He’s got such a pastor’s heart.”

“One of the things I’m proudest of in STCHM’s history,” Jack said, “is that God has always provided. “I always believed that if you see as many people as you can as often as you can, God will do the rest.”

“There’s nobody more bold and more assertive than A.J. “Jack” Green. PERIOD!” Weber said. “And this boldness brought about the financial stability of South Texas Children’s Home Ministries and the growth to carry out our mission to children and families.”

Hanna could not agree more. “I think 1 Timothy chapter 6 describes Jack both personally and theologically,” Hanna said. “So much so that I have a note in the margin of my Bible that reads: Jack Green stores up for STCH and himself a good foundation for the future; so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed (1 Tim. 6:19).”

The accounts of people’s generosity toward STCHM during those decades are nothing short of miraculous. And most who began supporting the Home through their association with Jack continue to be faithful supporters today.

“I was visiting with a man in a Beeville coffee shop one day about STCHM and later received a call from a stranger who had overheard me talking about the Home in the coffee shop,” Jack shared. “He wanted to furnish a cottage for our kids with a gift of $37,000. Another lady who was a supporter came by the office and then visited one of our cottages. She then wrote out a $100,000 check and said, ‘I’ve always wanted a new brick home and I’m going to have it. But I’m going to give it to South Texas Children’s Home because I want the kids who come to the Home to live in it.’”

Along the way, Jack discovered that he didn’t have to give up preaching after all. “Once when I was preaching at First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, a woman watching the service on TV called and wanted to leave her ranch and mineral rights to the Home. Another great supporter over the years was Louise Glasscock. She and her husband were in the oil industry, and Louise and I were both trustees on the UCC board together. When I started as STCHM president, she congratulated me with a letter and sent a $30,000 donation to the Home.”

Jack reminisced about the one million dollar capital campaign he launched called Project 80’s to update campus facilities. “We were just kicking off the campaign when the worst real estate bust ever came along,” he said.

Hanna also remembers it well. “When Project 80’s appeared in jeopardy because of the economy, Jack asked the board to ‘allow God to demonstrate His faithfulness and power.’ The project never slowed down and God provided all of the resources to complete the work.”

In fact, Jack got a call from a board member toward the end of the campaign who wanted to give $100,000. “I told him that $87,000 would do it and he said, ‘Jack, I’m sure you’ll find something to do with the rest.’”

Another important aspect of Jack’s legacy with STCHM was the startup of the Family Counseling center in Corpus Christi.

“I got to thinking about the need to work from both ends – to work to keep families together, too, as well as be here to help when families break up.”

A STCHM trustee called Jack and told him missionary Mildred Verbeck had lost her father and wanted to do something for the Home. When Jack shared his idea about starting the counseling center, it struck a chord with Verbeck. In 1995, the counseling center was established and countless individuals, couples and families have been helped for more than 15 years. A second STCHM counseling center in Victoria is now three years old.

“I got a call from a Corpus Christi man one day,” Jack said with emotion. “He said, ‘Thank you for starting STCHM’s Family Counseling center, Dr. Green. It saved my marriage and changed our lives.’”

“Dr. Jack Green is one of those larger-than-life personalities who come along once in a lifetime,” Roberson said. “From friend, to boss, to mentor, I am thankful and blessed that Dr. Green is a part of my life, my family’s life, and a vital part of the life of STCHM!”

Since retirement, Jack has continued to serve STCHM as a development consultant, sharing the good news about the Home at every opportunity. He has also served as interim pastor 27 different times at various churches, preached at many camps, does cowboy church at Beefmaster cattle auctions, and stays busy supplying pulpits in churches that have a need. The Greens also enjoy spending time with their family and grandchildren, and particularly love escaping to their cabin in Creede during the summer.

Five years ago, Jack and Bobbie faced uncertain times when Bobbie broke her femur and they discovered she had Stage 4 lymphoma throughout her body. She was under the care of MD Anderson for three years, but neither chemotherapy nor radiation was recommended. The Greens then learned of an oncologist in San Antonio, and after much prayer and hearing God’s direction through the story of the Pool of Siloam in John 9:1-7, they believed that San Antonio would be Bobbie’s Siloam. She began treatments there and last year, they received the wonderful news that Bobbie is in complete remission.

“There are many wonderful people who have led STCHM in various capacities, but nobody has poured themselves into STCHM more completely than Jack Green.” Weber said. “And Bobbie has been there every step of the way.”

“Loyalty is the word that reminds me most of Jack Green’s life,” Hanna concluded. “Loyalty to Christ, loyalty to STCHM, and loyalty to his friends and family.”

With the quiet confidence of one who has spent a lifetime trusting God to do the impossible, Jack said softly, “If you stay faithful to what God calls you to do, He will provide.”

And He certainly has.

STCHM Relief Efforts Reach Haitians in Need

News — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:41:51 +0000

BEEVILLE, Texas – At 4:30 a.m. on May 13, 2010, the vision of South Texas Children’s Home Ministries (STCHM) to help feed Haitian children and families began the exciting but dangerous process of fulfillment.

Weeks of careful preparation by STCHM and their partners in the Dominican Republic had preceded this moment. STCHM collected donations from many individuals, churches and a school, all eager to help, and sent the funds to Pastor Rudy de la Cruz of Quisqueyana Baptist Church (IBQ) in Santo Domingo. As some of the chaos in Haiti subsided, Pastor Rudy and his staff began the extensive process of paperwork and planning to ensure a successful and safe trip across the border into Haiti. This included several trips into Haiti to assess the situation and connect with churches that would serve as distribution points. Food common to the Haitian diet was purchased, including rice, beans, powdered milk, flour, sugar, oil, dried fish and spicy canned sardines called pica-pica.

Reports of riots and attacks by desperately hungry people in Haiti meant extra precautions had to be made. The supplies were divided into 100 boxes and then sealed and stored under the seats of the bus to make them as inconspicuous as possible. Visas and documents were secured, fees were paid, and permissions were stamped. A government official in Haiti, who was the cousin of the pastor in Bouque, Haiti where the supplies were headed, arranged to meet the team on the border at Jimani to help expedite their crossing. With many praying for their safety, Pastor Rudy, two IBQ members, a Haitian immigrant, and Jean Carlos of TIME Ministries began the five-hour trip to the border.

Trucks and buses were jammed at the border crossing when they arrived. With the help from the pastor’s cousin, and after considerable haggling, the “fees” demanded for the privilege of crossing were negotiated down from $2,500 to less than $600. Driving around other vehicles still in line, their bus was allowed to proceed toward the destination.

Pastor Rudy reported that no amount of reading or watching the news can realistically convey the sad and desperate situation of the Haitian people. As they traveled through the countryside, there appeared to be no evidence of the millions and millions of dollars that have been sent by so many countries to help the Haitian people.

“It was the middle of the day, the time for preparing their main meal, but there was no smoke from charcoal fires. No smells of food in the air. Just hundreds of people walking, milling around, hopeless, hungry,” Pastor Rudy said. “They just stood around or moved slowly and aimlessly from place to place, and no one was working. None of the children seemed to be in school, but they didn’t laugh or play. They just stood, with sad eyes, and hunger stamped on their faces.”

The distribution of food was intended for the families of the Baptist church named Iglesia Tabernaculo de la Trinidad but when the team arrived, over 1,000 people had gathered as word had spread that food supplies might be available. To avoid a riot, the bus was parked a few inches from the church door, and the sealed boxes were passed through a window of the bus and taken directly into the church. The inability to see what was in the boxes was also a deterrent to any possible violence. The church provided a safe haven for the supplies, in spite of the damage it sustained in January’s earthquake. Large cracks in the roof and walls have made it unsafe for worship, and the congregation now meets under tarps strung between tree-branch poles.

After all the boxes were unloaded, the pastor of the Haitian church held a short service and spoke words of encouragement to the gathered crowd. As the crowd disbursed, the team left in the bus so that the pastor could quietly distribute the boxes of food to individual families.

“If the provisions of food from around the world would have been distributed through the churches in Haiti,” Pastor Rudy said, “the churches could have delivered the food to their congregations and communities. The bottleneck that is preventing hungry people from receiving the food could have possibly been alleviated. So much food continues to be stored in huge warehouses and crates, and is even rotting on piers, while so many go hungry.”

Back in the Dominican Republic, Jean Carlos reflected on the trip and the efforts South Texas Children’s Home Ministries, IBQ and TIME had made to help Haiti.

“When I helped fill and load the boxes of food on the bus, I thought, Wow, that’s a lot of stuff. But when we got there, it seemed like a drop in the ocean,” he said. But Jean Carlos concluded, “Mejor hacer algo, que no hacer nada.” Better to have done something, than not to do anything.

“We pray that these provisions will be an encouragement to these Haitian Christians and their pastor,” said Joanna Berry, STCHM’s Vice President of Family Counseling and International Ministry. “We want them to know that God and His people have not forgotten them in their distressing situation.”

South Texas Children’s Home Ministries has been involved in international ministry and humanitarian aid for several years, with much of their work centering in the Santo Domingo area of the Dominican Republic. Mission trips sponsored by STCHM offer many different ministry activities and opportunities for participants. Families are encouraged to go on a mission trip together, and individual adults, couples and adult groups are also welcome. STCHM also provides general residential childcare at campuses in Beeville and Goliad, family counseling services in Corpus Christi and Victoria, and job and life skills training for women through the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Corpus Christi.

STCHM Haitian Relief Effort Moves Forward

News — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:08:38 +0000

Message from Todd Roberson, President and CEO, STCH Ministries

As many of you know, South Texas Children’s Home Ministries has solid relationships with our Christian partners in the Dominican Republic through our ongoing international ministry efforts in the DR. Because of this, STCHM has a great opportunity to directly assist Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ who have lost everything. Our Dominican partners, along with Joanna Berry, STCHM Vice President – Family Counseling and International Ministry, have wisely taken the time to plan and assess the situation and needs before launching out to minister in the midst of the chaos and pain. Will you please take a moment to read about these efforts and consider giving what you can to help with this mission? For more information, click here for a flyer. Donations can be made by clicking the Donate button at the bottom of this page. Please designate Haiti Relief Fund when giving. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Gratefully yours,

Todd Roberson

Will You Serve this Summer?

News — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:41:58 +0000

An Awesome Opportunity awaits! JULY 18 – 25, 2009

MEET JOSE: Jose Manuel is 21 years old and the caregiver for five nephews whose father died and mother abandoned them. And Jose is sick.

THE GOOD NEWS! The team of doctors from STCHM/FBC-Corpus Christi treated him in March this year and left him with a two-month supply of medication. Samuel’s Fund sponsorships now provide the means for the children to go to school and better food for their household. The reports are encouraging — Jose is improving! [Read More]

48th Annual STCHM Christmas Party

admin — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:34:03 +0000

Churches from Six Counties Hold 48th Annual Christmas Party for South Texas Children’s Home Ministries

BEEVILLE, Texas – Christmas traditions are often a cherished part of holiday celebrations, especially for children. For kids at South Texas Children’s Home Ministries (STCHM), one such tradition is the annual Christmas party given in their honor by the Blanco Baptist Association. Twenty area churches participated this year in the 48th Annual Blanco Christmas Party by sponsoring one or more children from the Home.Members from all of the sponsoring churches arrived at the party bearing gifts, food and Christmas goodies for the 225 who attended.

Jimmy Hudson of Skidmore, current Blanco Baptist Men director, attended his first STCHM Christmas party in 1981 and he hasn’t missed one since. He and his wife Lori love being involved.

“My wife and I have always loved kids whether our own, our foster children, or working with children through Sunday school classes, youth groups, or other programs. To see the smiles on their faces and to gain a friendship with these young people is awesome!” Hudson said. “People from communities surrounding the STCHM campuses look forward to being a part of the STCHM Christmas party every year.”

STCHM children were seated at the party next to people from the church that sponsored them. The party was held at First Baptist Church-Beeville this year since STCHM’s gym is currently being renovated. A lively word game kicked off the evening’s activities and helped everyone get acquainted. Ten-year-old Orlando thought the game and the party were “pretty cool.”

“One of the questions in the game was ‘What do you call a hippo at the North Pole?’ and one lady guessed Hippo-snowman! But the answer was LOST!’” Orlando said. “It was pretty funny.”

After singing a few Christmas carols together, the guests were treated to a performance by the Jeff Brewer Family. The Brewers got the crowd smiling with a pantomime of Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “Christmas Song.” The audience then sat spellbound as they listened to the “Wassail Song”, a solo by 11-year-old Leah Brewer called “Who Would Imagine a King?” and the beautiful, crystal clear finale of “Carol of the Bells.”

“This was the first time I ever saw the Brewer Family,” said Paige, a 16-year-old STCHM student. “They were awesome!”

The moment everyone had waited for finally arrived. As the kids tore into the beautifully wrapped gifts from their sponsors, it was hard to tell whether the children or the sponsors were having the most fun!

Ray and Deanna Longino from Rockport have been helping with the annual STCHM Christmas party for 40 years. They remember their first experience with sponsoring a child for Christmas.

“We found out there was a child who needed a bicycle and we couldn’t even afford one for our own kids at the time! But our Sunday School class all went together, and we bought that child a bicycle! ” Deanna exclaimed. “We’ve just always loved the kids.” This year, the Longino’s son Jerry and his own children attended the STCHM Christmas party for the first time, continuing his parents’ long legacy of caring for STCH Ministries.

Nikki, an 18-year-old STCHM senior, was a bit nostalgic this year since it was her fifth and last time to attend the Christmas party.

“My sponsor this year was Mr. Frisbee from my church in Goliad. I had worked in the nursery at church with his wife but she passed away earlier this year,” Nikki said. “Mr. Frisbee told me that night that his wife had always appreciated me going in every Sunday to help in the nursery. We both missed having her at the party and at the end, we both cried.”

Like Nikki, many STCHM children have grown accustomed to the love and generosity shown to them at Christmas by the people of the Blanco Baptist Association and others who find such joy in reaching out to them. The grand party is quite a new experience, though, for those students like seventeen-year-old Carissa who have only been at STCHM for a short time.

“The room was filled with love, caring and thoughtfulness that night,” Carissa said. “It was really a touching experience, something you will never forget.”

That is what Hudson and others involved are counting on.

“My hope is that the Christmas Party will create a continued sense of love, faith and hope in the children’s lives and that they will be able to see there are those out there that do care,” Hudson said. “The Home has always been an inspiration to me and my wife Lori, especially as we became foster parents several years ago. STCH Ministries is a God-sent oasis in a world of desolation and dysfunction. Without this ministry there is no telling how many lives would have been lost to this world!”

The Blanco Baptist Association is made up of churches in six counties: Aransas, Bee, Goliad, Live Oak, Refugio and San Patricio. South Texas Children’s Home Ministries receives both state and privately placed children at their residential childcare campuses in Beeville and Goliad. The Home relies solely on the generosity of individuals, churches, businesses, foundations and other organizations for funding.

Mineral Wells Couple Return from Medical Mission Trip to Dominican Republic

News — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:05:56 +0000

Dot and Virgil Youngblood assisted a team of doctors in mission effort sponsored by South Texas Children’s Home

Beeville, Texas – Four Texas doctors and five support team members recently returned from a successful medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic sponsored by South Texas Children’s Home (STCH). Dot and Virgil Youngblood of Mineral Wells were part of the team, which held ten clinics in and around Santo Domingo March 8-15.

The trip was Dot Youngblood’s first trip to a third world country. “It took a couple of days to look beyond the conditions of poverty that surrounded us and begin to just focus on the people and their needs,” Dot said. “But the people were wonderful and so beautiful, and the team was able to treat 1,658 men, women and children while we were there.”

Virgil Youngblood was also taken by the Dominican people and their graciousness. “Even though they were poor and didn’t have the nicest clothes, we found that the people were always clean,” Virgil said. “It was amazing.”

Other team members included: Dr. Rick D. Edwards, Dr. Barbara Estment and Dr. Tim Carter from Corpus Christi; Dr. Tom Ashy from Victoria; Sandra Downs of Beeville; Doretta Brown of Corpus Christi; and Joanna Berry, South Texas Children’s Home vice president of family ministry and international childcare.

The clinics were held in chapels, homes, a community center, a school, under trees and even at a city dump where many people lived. Malnutrition, anemia, and fungal diseases accounted for more than half of the issues due to polluted water, poor diet, lack of education about nutrition, and little money to buy food.

“We discovered that some stomach pain complaints were actually due to hunger because of lack of money for food, which the children were embarrassed to admit,” Dot said. The couple also assisted as doctors treated many for parasites, as well as some with infections, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, an ulcerated knee, compound fractures, chicken pox and even a serious gunshot wound. Vitamins and prenatal vitamins were also dispensed to most of the children and the pregnant moms. Interpreters helped the team teach about the importance of boiling water, keeping wounds and sores clean, wearing shoes, and including the most available vegetables in their diets.

“In the village of Yamasa, where the Dominican Christians have been holding Bible classes and teaching on health and nutrition regularly, less anemia and parasites were found among the people,” Dot said. “Education is so important.”

The Youngbloods felt that getting the right vitamins was one of the most important health needs, especially for the children. “The vitamins help boost the children’s immune systems and give them a hope for a better life,” Dot said. “STCH plans to take a greater supply of vitamins on future trips to follow up with the efforts of this first team.”

Although South Texas Children’s Home has been leading international mission trips to the Dominican Republic for the past couple of years, this was the organization’s first medical mission effort to the area.

“Whoever was praying for us did an amazing job,” Virgil said. “For us to be able to go like we did – from early in the morning until late every day was a miracle.”

Funds for the trip, along with donated supplies and medications, came from participating doctors and team members as well as from other interested individuals and churches around Texas. In 2007, after devastating flooding displaced more than 130,000 Dominicans from their homes, STCH contributed $5,000 toward disaster relief and channeled another $10,000 towards relief donated by churches and individuals.

Todd Roberson, STCH president and CEO, said that STCH’s relatively new international ministry is a natural outgrowth of the 56-year-old organization’s vision and longtime commitment to caring for children and strengthening families.

“Ministering internationally stretches us beyond our borders to needy families and at-risk children in other countries,” Roberson said. “Dot Youngblood serves on the South Texas Children’s Home Board of Directors and it was wonderful for her and Virgil to take part in this trip. We appreciated the spirit, dedication, gifts and all the hard work of the whole medical mission team as they ministered to the Dominican people.”

“The team God put together for this mission was perfect,” Dot said, “with the blend of all our personalities and strengths. We came together as strangers and we left as friends.”

South Texas Children’s Home is a multi-service organization offering basic dependent residential childcare at campuses in Beeville and Goliad, family counseling offices in Victoria and Corpus Christi, and international/humanitarian aid in the Dominican Republic. It is a licensed childcare facility regulated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services but relies solely on the generosity of individuals, churches, businesses, foundations, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and other organizations for funding.